Sign.



(I. F. BURNAM.

SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED NQV. 6, 1913.

'1, 1 07,585. Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

JAMES F. BURNAM. OF HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA.

SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented Aug. 18, 191a.

Application filed November 5, 1913. Serial no. 799,340.

, To all whom it may concern Be it knownthat I, J AMES F. BURNAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Huntsville, in the county of Madison and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs, of which the followin is a specification.

My invention IQiltGS to improvements in signs, and has particular reference to a sign embodying a suitably reinforced folded or rolled sheet or scroll adapted to be thrown orshot, as an arrow or dart, against a suitable support, and having means for securing it to such support and allowing it to unroll.

An important object of this invention is to provide means of the above mentioned character, which are simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and convenient in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of the above mentioned character, which may be folded or rolled up to occupy the minimum space during shipment, and to assume the form of an arrow or dart, preparatory to being used.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sign unrolled, embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same rolled, Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same, Fig. 4 is an inner side elevation of the securing means, Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the same, and, Fig. 6 is a similar view taken at a right angle to the showing in Fig. 5.

In the drawin 5, wherein is illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates a sheet or section of flexible material, which may be advantageously formed of cloth, paper, or very thin sheet metal. I do not wish to restrict myself to forming the sheet 10 of any particular material, as any suitable material may be employed. The flexible sheet 10 may have one or both of its sides provided with suitable inscriptions, signs, or advertisements, the same being printed, painted, stenciled or otherwise applied thereto by any suitable means. Connected with the longitudinal edges of the flexible sheet 10 are longitudinal reinforcing rods 11, which are preferably made of wood, although they may be made of sheet metal or any other suitable material. The longitudinal edges of the flexible sheet' 10 are preferably provided with hems 12 receiving the longitudinal reinforcing rods 11, the same being secured therein by tacks 13 or the like. hile I have illustrated this form of means for securing the reinforcing rods 11 to the flexible sheet 10, it is to be understood that they may. be connected therewith by any other suitable means. I

The numeral 14 designates attaching means as a whole, serving to connect the sign to a wall, telegraph pole, fence, or other support, when the former is thrown or shot thereagainst, as will be explained. Such attaching means comprises a body portion 15, preferably in the form of a cup or shell, with its concave surface arranged outermost with relation to the sign, when the latter is folded, as shown in Fig. 2. Rigidly connected with the central portion of the outer concave surface of the cup-shaped body portion 15 is a pointed pin prong or support penetrating attaching element 16. The cupshaped body portion 15 is provided with openings 17, which loosely receive the free ends of a U-shaped element or staple 18, such free ends being bent outwardly in opposite directions, as more clearly shown in Fig. 6. The openings 17 are sufficiently large whereby the staple 18 may be swung in all directions with relation to the body portion 15, whereby such staple has a universal connect-ion therewith. Arranged upon opposite sides of the staple 18 are teeth 19, preferably stamped from the material of the body portion 15 and extending inwardly toward the sign, to enter recesses or openings 20 formed in corresponding ends of the reinforcing rods 11, as shown.

The numeral 21 designates a flexible ele ment, which is preferably formed of cord although the same may be formed of any other suitable material, having one end thereof suitably attached to the upper reinforcing rod 11, preferably equi-distantly between the ends thereof and lts opposite end secured to the staple 18. As an example of means for securing the flexible element to the upper reinforcing rod 11, said rod is provided with a transverse opening 11, receiving the flexible element 21, having at its lower end an enlargement or knot 21.

' with the reinforcing rod 11 and either end thereof. The sign is retained rolled by a detachable U-shaped clamp 22, preferably formed of lead.

In the use of my sign, the same is folded by rolling the sheet 10 upon the lower reinforcing rod 11, until the two rods lie one upon the other, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. The flexible element 21 is arranged between the reinforcing rods, together with the staple 18. The teeth 19 extend into the recesses or openings 20. The concave side of the cup-shaped body portion 15 is arranged outwardly with relation to the sign, which is now in the form of a dart or arrow. The detachable clamp 22 is now placed upon the rods 11 inwardly of and adjacent the attaching means. While I prefer to use this clamp, however it hasbeen found that satisfactory results are obtainable without it. The folded sign, which now constitutes the arrow or dart is shot from a bow or gun against a suitable support, whereby the pin or prong 16 will be driven therein, the lead clamp 22 falling from the sign, on account of the jars and its inertia. The flexible element 21 being longer than the distance between its point of connection with the upper reinforcing rod 11 .and either end thereof, permits the sign while folded to drop, before unrolling. It is obvious that the sign automatically unrolls, and as the desired subject matter may be applied to both sides thereof the same will be properlyexhibited.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. A sign of the character described, comprising a flexible sheet having suitable subject matter thereon,- longitudinally extending reinforcing rods connected with portions of the flexible sheet and adapted to be arranged near each other when the flexible sheet is folded, a support penetrating attaching means adapted to engage with corresponding ends of the reinforcing rods when they are arranged near each other and to extend approximately parallel with relation thereto, and means connecting the attapihing means with one of the reinforcing ro s.

2. A sign of the character described, comprising a flexible sheet having suitable subject matter thereon, reinforcing rods connected with portions of the flexible sheet and adapted to be arranged near each other when the flexible sheet is folded, a support penetrating element adapted to have detachable connection with corresponding ends of the reinforcing rods when they are arranged near each other and extending approximately parallel with relation thereto in advance of the same, and "a flexible element connecting the support penetrating element with one of the reinforcing rods.

3. A sign of the character described, comprising a flexible sheet adapted to receive suitable subject matter thereon, reinforcing rods connecting with opposite edges of the flexible sheet and provided at corresponding ends with recesses, attaching means including a body portion carrying a'pointed element adapted to penetrate a support and teeth to be inserted within the recesses of the rods, respectively and a flexible element connecting the attaching means with one re inforcing rod.

4. A sign of the character described, comprising a flexible sheet having suitable sub j ect matter thereon, a reinforcing rod connected with the sheet to suspend the same when it unfolds, a tapered element, means for temporarily securing the tapered element upon one end of the reinforcing rod in advance of the same in approximately parallel relation thereto, and a flexible element connected with the tapered element and with the reinforcing rod between the ends of the reinforcing rod.

5. A sign of the character described, comprising a flezn'ble sheet adapted to receive suitable subject matter thereon, reinforcing rods attached to the opposite edges of the flexible sheet, attaching means adapted to be detachably connected with the corresponding ends of the reinforcing rods when the sheet is folded, a flexible element connected with the attaching means and with one reinforcing rod between the ends thereof, and a. detachable clamp surrounding the rods when the flexible sheet is folded for preventing improper unfolding of the flexible sheet.

6. A sign of the character described. comprising a flexible sheet adapted to receive suitable subject matter thereon, reinforcing rods attached to the opposite edges of the flexible sheet and provided at corresponding ends with recesses, a. cup-shaped member provided with teeth to enter the openings in the reinforcing rods and having apertures arranged near the teeth, a U-shaped element loosely mounted within the apertures with its free ends bent laterally for preventing the removal of the U-shaped elementthere from, a flexible element connected with the U-shaped element and with one reinforcing rod, and a tapered element attached to the cup-shaped member.

7. A sign comprising .a rod, a support penetrating element adapted to be detachably connected with a portion of the rod with one end thereof extending in advance of the leading end of the rod in approximately parallel relation thereto when the rod is being shot as a dart, a flexible element connecting the support penetrating element and the rod to support the rod from the support penetrating element when the support penetrating element has been separated from the rod, and a sheet carried by the rod.

8. A sign of the character described, comprising a member adapted to be shot through the air like a dart and having suitable subject matter thereon, a support penetrating element adapted to be detachably connected with the member with one end thereof extending in advance of the leading end of the member in approximately parallel relation thereto when said member isbeing shot as a dart, and a flexible suspending element permanently connecting the support penetrating element and the member. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES F. BURN.

Witnesses:

' W. A. CONNER, 05. K. STEGALL. 

